Making Time for Quiet Prayer

Wefrequently hear about the importance of regular quiet time with God – in sermons, devotions, personal testimonies, heck, even the Bible.Jesusoften went off by himself to pray. Many times Jesus prayed through the night, foregoing sleep. Prayer was clearly a priority, and should be for us.

My best prayer time, recently, was while strapped to an uncomfortable seat as required by an illuminated fasten seatbelt sign. With nowhere to go, I opened my prayer app, lifted up each concern, and jotted down insights. I can’t remember the last time I poured out my heart to God like that! It was surprisingly intimate! I emerged connected to the Spirit, filled with peace, and confident that God was handling every concern.

Why don’t we makeprayer a daily habit?

There are many reasons – work, sleep, lunches to pack, a pet needing to go out, social media, life.

We talk to God all day, sending quick prayers of thanksgiving and cries for help. We think about people needing His presence. We say mealtime blessings.It’s all good prayer but doesn’t provide the intimacy found in time alone with Him.

So let’s do this!

Wewant to start our day with Him. Weknow that a steady habit of dedicated prayer is life changing! Let’schoose to meet Him in that quiet place.

In lieu of being strapped down and a thousand miles above the earth,find a comfortable chair away from your main living space. For convenience, keep a Bible, notebook, and pen there, and perhaps a candle and timer.

A timer?Short of installing a seat belt, it may be difficult to remain seated. Set the timer and commit to five minutes in His presence. At first, it may feel like an eternity, but will soon be too brief.

Use the candle tocalm your racing mind and relax your body.Tell your family that when the candle is lit, you’re spending time with God – it’s better than posting a Do Not Disturb sign.

If you’re visually distracted, close your eyes. When your mind wanders, either arrest the diversion and pull your thoughts back to God or pray for the diversion itself.

Don’t do all the talking. Let your mind be still and listen. Take notes of your insights or journal your whole conversation with Him.

This is an idyllic prayer environment, but we all know some days don’t start out this way. Never fear! There are many ways to be alone with God.

Pray before getting out of bed. When you’re tempted to start planning your day, give Him your agenda and ask for His guidance.

Pray while walking. Praise God for His creation. Pray for the families whose homes you pass and pour out your own concerns.

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